Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to compete in qualifying events for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games as neutral athletes. The news comes from The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), which announced the decision Tuesday.
“The FIS Council convened this Tuesday and voted not to facilitate the participation of athletes from Russia and Belarus as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) in FIS qualification events for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games,” wrote the organization in a press release.
“The International Olympic Committee’s AIN regime has been set out as a possible pathway for athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in the Olympic Games, with each International Federation remaining responsible for the decision on whether to allow these athletes to take part in its existing qualification system.”
Though the International Olympic Committee allows for athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete as “Individual Neutral Athletes,” it is up to the international federations that run each sport to decide whether to use that system. Most Winter Olympic sport federations have barred athletes from Russia and Belarus from international competition since March 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine. However, recently the ice skating and ski mountaineering organizations did open up paths for Russians to qualify.
As NBC Sports notes, FIS events account for 57 of the 116 medal events at this Winter Olympics.
Following the announcement, Russia’s national ski association called the decision discriminatory and expressed “deep disappointment,” as ESPN reports.